January 2015

As the Superintendent of Highline Public Schools and a resident of the Highline community, I feel compelled to write this open letter. I am grateful to those of you who supported our bond measure last month, which fell just short of the 60% supermajority needed for passage. For those of you who opposed the bond, I also appreciate that you took the time and effort to engage in the democratic process and express your views.

On December 17, the School Board approved placing another bond proposal on the February 10, 2015 ballot. We are taking this step because in order to best educate our children, we must replace aging buildings and relieve the crowding in our schools. The proposal includes some savings gained from, among other things, eliminating the need for middle school interim sites, thus ensuring that our middle school students will not have two transitions during their middle school years.

As we move forward we will engage in a community-wide conversation about this bond

As the Superintendent of Highline Public Schools and a resident of the Highline community, I feel compelled to write this open letter. I am grateful to those of you who supported our bond measure last month, which fell just short of the 60% supermajority needed for passage. For those of you who opposed the bond, I also appreciate that you took the time and effort to engage in the democratic process and express your views.

On December 17, the School Board approved placing another bond proposal on the February 10, 2015 ballot. We are taking this step because in order to best educate our children, we must replace aging buildings and relieve the crowding in our schools. The proposal includes some savings gained from, among other things, eliminating the need for middle school interim sites, thus ensuring that our middle school students will not have two transitions during their middle school years.

As we move forward we will engage in a community-wide conversation about this bond

By Tim Clifford

“The family is just torn. He was a big part of this family. The only way that I could describe how I feel is that half of me died and is buried with my father,” describes Denise Jeffries as she, along with family and friends, lights candles around a sidewalk memorial to her late father.

This New Year’s Eve marked the one year anniversary of the murder of Denise’s father, Stephen Jeffries, at a party being held on the 9200 block of 16 Ave. S.W. in White Center.

After arriving to the party with his girlfriend Melinda and older sister Nikki an unknown man began fighting with the 40-year-old father of four. Just before the stroke of midnight Stephen was fatally shot twice by an unknown gunman who was in the crowd. A 33-year-old woman was also shot through the hand during the incident. Both were rushed to Harbor View where Stephen died from his injuries.

West Seattle resident Marty Riemer after a five year hiatus from broadcast radio came back to an on air shift this morning on KJR 95.7 The Jet joining his long time partner Jodi Brothers Blau for their early morning Marty and Jodi show.

Riemer famously left the volatile world of radio when he quit KMTT 103.7 after previously being fired and then rejoining the station after a public outcry.

During his time away from radio he stayed busy with a weekly podcast produced from his in home studio. Brothers Blau joined him for a time before she herself came back to broadcast radio first joining Bob Rivers and then later with her own show.

Riemer also worked with his own company Twisted Scholar to produce materials for schools around the nation and produced the award winning documentary Sleeping with Siri with his film partner Michael Stusser.

The studio was highly decorated for his return with streamers and balloons.

By Tim Clifford

An overnight manhunt was ended on Vashon Island this morning at 4:30 a.m. with patrol officers from West Seattle and Burien assisting Vashon deputies.

Dispatchers on Vashon Island began receiving calls just before 6 p.m. on Jan.3 regarding an adult male fighting with his mother. Minutes after dispatching officers to this domestic disturbance more calls started rolling in reporting that the same man was now involved in a road rage incident, vandalism, and threats of violence.

A deputy spotted the suspect’s red ‘76 Ford pickup with no tailgate or license plate at 6:45 p.m. and attempted to pull him over. The suspect gave a short chase, eventually ramming the deputy’s patrol car several times. While on the 9800 block of Windmill Rd. the deputy began firing shots at the pickup truck before his patrol car became inoperable from the hits. After being fired at the suspect drove away and went into hiding.

By Tim Clifford

“The family is just torn. He was a big part of this family. The only way that I could describe how I feel is that half of me died and is buried with my father,” describes Denise Jeffries as she, along with family and friends, lights candles around a sidewalk memorial to her late father.

This New Year’s Eve marked the one year anniversary of the murder of Denise’s father, Stephen Jeffries, at a party being held on the 9200 block of 16 Ave. S.W. in White Center.

After arriving to the party with his girlfriend Melinda and older sister Nikki an unknown man began fighting with the 40-year-old father of four. Just before the stroke of midnight Stephen was fatally shot twice by an unknown gunman who was in the crowd. A 33-year-old woman was also shot through the hand during the incident. Both were rushed to Harbor View where Stephen died from his injuries.

The Seattle Green Spaces Coalition will meet on January 4, 2015 at the High Point Library at 411 SW Raymond St, in West Seattle at 3:00 PM to discuss strategies for preserving open space in Seattle.

On the table are 2015 action items to preserve the following sites around Seattle.

• North Beach Substation, 9407 19th Ave. NW,
• Loyal Heights Substation, 7750 28th Ave. NW
• North Beach Substation 9407 19th Ave NW
• Ballard Substation, 6730 24th Ave. NW
• Monroe Substation, 1407 NW 65th St.
• Sunset Substation, 3209 NW 65th St.
• Andover Substation, 2100 SW Andover St.
• Avalon Substation, 4400 35th Ave SW
• Dakota Substation, 4918 SW Dakota SW
• Delridge Substation, 5601 23rd Ave SW
• Fauntleroy Substation, 4520 Brace Point Dr.

by Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Close, to start, not even close to finish, that summarizes the Shorewood Christian Lady Lions, 32-18, victory over the Three Rivers Christian Eagles at Chinook Middle School in Sea Tac on Friday.

The Lions, a small 2B private school in White Center, off Roxbury, play its next game against visiting Christian Faith Center on Jan. 5, with girls at 5:30 p.m. and boys at 7 p.m.

"We are just getting into the meat of our the season," said Lions coach, Joe Turner.

Against the Eagles, the Lions made it another game like the first one they played earlier in the season against this same foe, a 35-26 win that was improved upon.

"It was a good game to come back to from the break," said Abby Turner, one of two seniors on the team.
The first quarter played out competitively enough, as, the Lions and Eagles were tied, 4-4, before three straight points for the Lions gave them a 7-4 lead after one.

by Jay Murray
Hi-Yu President 2014-2015

The West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting Jan. 5th 2015 will select the theme for the festival year. Since the West Seattle Hi-Yu is an All Volunteer organization all are welcome to attend the meeting and take part.

Meetings are on the 1st Monday of each month, at 7:00 pm at the Admiral Congregational Church, 4320 SW Hill Street. (three blocks North of Admiral Way just off California Ave SW.) Please come and join in planning this years West Seattle Hi-Yu Festivals. The new officers are excited with the possibilities of having wonderful events throughout the year for the community. Your participation will help to make it possible.

Please consider joining the West Seattle HI-Yu 2014-2015. Individual membership is still just $20. and goes a long way to help make the Hi-Yu successful. Invite your neighbors, friends and relatives to join too!

The Scholarship program is for young members of the Hi-Yu courts who reign over the festival and ride on the parade float.

by Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Came down to one last shot, resting on Shorewood Christian sophomore shooting guard, Jovi Fevaleaki's shooting touch, the drive from the corner baseline looked manageable, as, he rose up and let the ball fly from 10 feet away, but, the ball went amiss, and, the Three Rivers Christian Eagles, held on, 46-45, to beat the Lions at Chinook Middle School in Sea Tac on Friday.

"I was waiting for it to go in there, and, it just hit the side of the backboard," said the 6-4 Fevaleaki, who led all scorers with a game-high 18 points.

All that game-winning-shot glory looked good, going toward the hoop, like a perfect ending, for Fevaleaki, and, his team, coaches, and, fans, for this White Center location school to erupt into frenzy against a Kelso area team that's kind of a rival, with the Lions and Eagles having met at the 1B state tournament, too, last season.

But, no, it wasn't to be for the Lions, the game, the win, the glory, no, no, no.